Germany's chancellor says Tehran rulers unlikely to gain prior strength

A massive explosion appears to have occurred near the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, on Tuesday, according to videos sent to Iran International.

Israel first hit IRIB HQ in northern Tehran on Monday.

US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei over the weekend, Axios reported, citing US officials.

The Israeli army believed they had a window to carry out the strike, but Trump rejected it.

While the White House continues to support Israel’s goals of dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, it does not back a broader effort to topple the Islamic Republic by force, according to the report.

The official added that Trump could still “swoop in and do some gigantic action.”

Ali Pakzad, a journalist with the reformist Iranian daily Shargh, has informed his family that he is in detention, the newspaper said on Tuesday.

Pakzad had been out of contact since Monday after heading out to report on the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran. Shargh said the reasons for his detention remain unclear and called for his swift release.

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Iran has implemented succession planning across sensitive institutions to ensure continuity even amid high-profile assassinations, Fars News Agency quoted an unnamed senior Iranian official as saying.

“Based on the experience of the Sacred Defense era (Iran-Iraq war 1980–88), the Islamic Republic has made precise decisions and arrangements for managing sensitive and security centers, including succession for up to ten tiers of officials and commanders,” the source was quoted as saying.

“There has been no disruption, and there will not be any, in critical functions due to potential assassinations,” the source added.

The individual, described as a high-level informed official, also said that immediate protective measures have been taken, including restrictions on officials' use of publicly connected communication equipment.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel is preparing to strike “very significant targets” in Iran, Kan public broadcaster reported.

Speaking to reporters, Katz added that an evacuation warning would be issued ahead of the strikes in Iran.

He said the Fordow nuclear facility is “an issue that will certainly be addressed,” and that Israel is “on the verge of destroying” more than ten nuclear-related targets in Tehran, citing the air force’s aerial superiority.